I've never read them, but I'm told that Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, a fantasy series for children that is in many ways an updating of Paradise Lost, features a plot that essentially argues that Satan was correct to rebel against God.

The plotline of the series involves a war against the church and ultimately against God himself.

For some reason, this popular series -- far more anti-religion than Harry Potter ever was, in so far as it's actually somewhat anti-religion -- has largely (but not completely) escaped the notice of the book-burning brigade.

But that's why we have big entertainment companies. Acting out of concerns for the project's bottom line, New Line is self-censoring its own adaptation of the books, removing all references to God and the church.

[Chris] Weitz, who directed American Pie and About A Boy, said New Line feared that any anti-religiosity in the film would make the project "unviable financially".

He said: "All my best efforts will be directed towards keeping the film as liberating and iconoclastic an experience as I can.

"But there may be some modification of terms."

Who knew that the marketplace of ideas really was a market?

And why would you ever buy the script in the first place, if you were so afraid it might be challenged?

And doesn't this wildly violate the integrity of the work Philip Pullamn created in the first place?

And when did we all become such cowards? New Line should be ashamed.

(via Pandagon, who gets in the last snarky word: "One admires the strength of a faith that can't stand up to a 'challenge' from a fictional fantasy series for children.")